The 2015 Chelmsford Stakes field has been released and leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller has an incredible 11 gallopers in the entries for the Group 2 event that will be held at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Hawkspur has the chance to record a third straight Chelmsford Stakes victory at Royal Randwick this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Royal Descent started her 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a tough win in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on August 22 and she will have the chance to complete the Warwick Stakes/Chelmsford Stakes double after she finished a close second behind stablemate Hawkspur in the race last year.
Kermadec hit the line strongly to finish fifth in the Warwick Stakes and he will be given the chance to improve on that effort in the Chelmsford Stakes, while Beaten Up, Moriarty and Hawkspur will also back-up from the Group 2 event.
2014 Victoria Derby winner Preferment is set to return to the races for the first time since he failed to fire in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Flemington on April 6, while Grand Marshal, I’m Imposing, Opinion and Who Shot Thebarman will also start their 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaigns in the Chelmsford Stakes.
The Warwick Stakes is always the key lead-up race to the Chelmsford Stakes and runner-up Pornichet is also set to back-up this weekend.
Pornichet finished his winter campaign with a dominant four lengths victory in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) in Brisbane on May 9 and the imported galloper showed that he was ready for a big spring campaign with his very tough second in the Warwick Stakes.
Complacent is another Warwick Stakes runner that has been included in the 2015 Chelmsford Stakes field and Godolphin are hopeful that the 2013 Spring Champion Stakes winner will have more luck in running after he was run off the track following the tragic breakdown of Burbero in the Warwick Stakes.
One of the most interesting horses in the 2015 Chelmsford Stakes field is Godolphin stayer Hartnell, who will return to the races for the first time since he was beaten as an odds-on favourite in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.
Hartnell made his Australian racing debut with a fast-finishing second behind Contributer in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm on February 28 and he took out both the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 14 and the Group 1 The BMW (2400m) at the same venue a fortnight later before his Sydney Cup flop.
The Authorized entire made the first public appearance of his spring preparation with an outstanding barrier trial over 836 metres at Royal Randwick on August 10 and he was equally as impressive when third in a trial over 1250 metres at the same venue on August 21.
Veteran stayer Precedence and John Thompson-trained Tremec have also been included in the 2015 Chelmsford Stakes field, while It’s Somewhat is currently the first emergency.
